Yorkshire Cancer Research feature APHRODITE, a trial that they funded which compares the standard dose of radiotherapy with a higher dose of radiotherapy for rectal cancer. The inital findings of this important trial were presented at ESTRO, where it was awarded the Donal Hollywood Award, a prestigious prize awarded to the best overall research abstract out of thousands of submissions, based on its scientific quality, innovation, and clinical relevance.
The key finding was that a complete response increased from 33% to 49% in the experimental group – this is more than two times the odds of the cancer disappearing in the experimental group compared to the patients who received the usual standard dose. Furthermore, there was no difference in side effects between groups, with similar quality of life reported in each group. In fact, participants returned to their usual quality of life within six months of treatment. This meands patients could avoid more aggressive, invasive and impactful-on-quality-of-life treatments such as surgery: a smarter, kinder treatment.
There is also an interesting patient story: Christine Skinner’s experience about participating in the APHRODITE trial and receiving treatment at Leeds Cancer Centre in Bexley Wing, St James Hospital.
